Jewish Riots Erupt Following Netanyahu Cartoon

In the wake of a controversial cartoon published in the Sunday Times of London, massive crowds of angry Jewish protestors gathered in Hyde Park yesterday and, whipped into a fervor by local rabbis, took to the streets of London.

Incited by the inflammatory, blood libel-themed cartoon–which was released on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and featured a hook-nosed caricature of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall using Palestinian blood as mortar–the crowds descended on the Harvey Nichols on Sloane Street, where they broke store windows and set fire to the Charlie Allen and Ted Baker collections. The mob, unabated, next stormed the Royal Portrait Gallery, tearing down and defacing the centuries’ old collection of British kings and queens.

“We left the new portrait of Kate Middleton up” said Gerald Stein of Stamford Hill, “it’s offensive enough on its own.”

In north London, Jewish football hooligans loyal to the Tottenham Hotspur assembled their so-called ‘Yid Army’ and looted local pubs, emptying them of their Bass and Boddington kegs before raiding the various fish n’ chip shops across the Haringey borough. As the group laid waste to a biscuit factory, the entirety of old blighty stank of burning gingerbread. A cloud of soot traveled south, turning the white cliffs of Dover grey. There were also reports that numerous spokes of the London Eye were removed and bent into the shape of a Star of David.

Residents of London have been advised to stay in their homes until further notice and all British journalists have been put under police protection. No word yet on the status of London Mayor Boris Johnson, who was thrown into the Tower of London.

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This is a strong piece, no doubt, but would it be possible to include a disclaimer in the text as opposed to the headline so that if some fool decides to disseminate satire as truth, the text reveals just that?

I have a very clear sense of reality, and i understand that this satire is mocking the Islamic cultural trait of rioting against insulting depictions.

Therefore, this satire is a clear case of Islamophobia, and an attempt to suppress the Islamic freedom of expression – violent expression, yes, but mostly when Islamists feel offended. So what, haven’t you ever killed someone because he offended you?

That last remark was disgusting. It’s precisely because Jews generally don’t have a history of violence when offended that gives them the right to satirically point out that Islamicists do. This was a clever (not to mention very funny) piece of writing. It’s better to poke fun at those who behave in an immature way than emulate their bad behaviour.
I thought the cartoon itself was appalling and it made me ashamed of my country. Not to stand with Israel (despite her failings) when she has been persecuted, rejected and abominably treated more than any other nation on earth, is tantamount with not standing with her Messiah, Yeshua.

“Not to stand with Israel … is tantamount with not standing with her Messiah, Yeshua.”
Are you being satirical Fran? I fear not. Your apparent desire to force your own beliefs onto the Jews is the disgusting one. A lot more Jews have been murdered by people trying to convert Jews to Christianity than by Islamists. How do you have the nerve to come here to a Jewish magazine and try to insert Jesus??

Perhaps the fact that it’s a joke should be left off so that the radical Islamic fundamentalists who actually do riot and kill because of a YouTube video or issue fatwas because of cartoons might pause and think, “Hey, those guys are more like us than we thought.” Sadly and ironically, that millisecond of contemplation might be the only way to get them to even begin to consider that we’re not spawns of Satan.

That is EXACTLY what would have happened if the cartoon had been construed as even slightly criticizing anything Islamic related. Also, the Times building would be history, and several of its employees brutally murdered.

And, according to the politically-coerced censorship crowd, it would be totally understandable.

It’s nice to hear Jewish Brits re act to Jew -Hatred! We Jewish/ Americans need some chutzpah here too, but we dont get much overt anti-Semitism..so far! Maybe Rabbi Kahane was not so wrong..(Ala Va Sholem). If we don’t “fight” back the Pogroms will never end.

I’m sorry but no. Politicians don’t get a one-day (two days if you include Yom Ha’Shoah and Holocaust Memorial Day) get-out-of-jail-free card for historical reasons. I would accept your argument if the cartoon were directed at Jews but it was clearly directed at one Israeli – Netanyahu. In fact linking Israel and Jews in such a manner runs in contrast to the protests of the Anti-Defamation league and all those organisations of anti-semitic attacks based on hatred of Israel, namely that being Jewish and being Israeli is not the same thing. If you feel some sort of blind loyalty towards him and feel an attack on him constitutes an attack on your religion – well that’s your problem not the cartoonist’s. I might not agree with the cartoon’s message but it certainly wasn’t racially offensive.

“Politicians don’t get a one-day (two days if you include Yom Ha’Shoah and Holocaust Memorial Day) get-out-of-jail-free card for historical reasons.”

If i was intent on criticizing someone, i wouldn’t do it the day of the year that she holds a memorial for her kid’s premature death.

Even if she were a politician, i could wait for a day (unless some other pressing reason dictated the necessity of criticizing on this particular day).

“I would accept your argument if the cartoon were directed at Jews but it was clearly directed at one Israeli – Netanyahu.”

I understood that the wall in the cartoon was what westerners call “the apartheid wall”. If that’s the case, then the criticism was directed also to the majority of the Israelis who acquiesce to the existence of the fence. The same holds true for the cartoon innuendo that Palestinians are innocent victims of aggressive action. It is directed against all those Israelis that considered Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense morally justified as acts of self defense.

“In fact linking Israel and Jews in such a manner runs in contrast to the protests of the Anti-Defamation league and all those organisations of anti-semitic attacks based on hatred of Israel, namely that being Jewish and being Israeli is not the same thing”

I agree that being Israeli and being a Jew is not the same thing. But when i see absurd criticisms against Israelis (such as the aforementioned ones) i can’t help concluding that some sort of passion blinds the one who makes the criticism. And what more plausible passion than anti-Semitism can explain the unwillingness to recognize that both the fence and the two anti-terrorist military operations in Gaza were acts of self defense?

“If you feel some sort of blind loyalty towards him and feel an attack on him constitutes an attack on your religion – well that’s your problem not the cartoonist’s.”

I am not Jewish either ethnically or religiously (i am Greek and atheist).

And, yes, i do have developed a problem with the crowd that the cartoonist is representative of, but the reason is the unbelievably malicious attitude that these people evince when they seek Israeli moral failings where none exists.

I am not acting out of loyalty to anyone, i am acting out of reaction to a maliciousness that disguises itself as moral posturing.

“I might not agree with the cartoon’s message but it certainly wasn’t racially offensive.”

Okay, maybe it’s not racial. But deep down it must have something to do with Jews (maybe their religion?).

“If i was intent on criticizing someone, i wouldn’t do it the day of the year that she holds a memorial for her kid’s premature death.

Even if she were a politician, i could wait for a day (unless some other pressing reason dictated the necessity of criticizing on this particular day).”

Perhaps, but in this case it’s an historical reason. 70 years ago, some people that Netanyahu never met died for being part of the same religion/ethnicity. His kid did not die. I think a better example would be criticism of him on the day his brother died. But even then, the cartoon is meant for the consumers of the Sunday Times, not Netanyahu.

“I understood that the wall in the cartoon was what westerners call “the apartheid wall”. If that’s the case, then the criticism was directed also to the majority of the Israelis who acquiesce to the existence of the fence. The same holds true for the cartoon innuendo that Palestinians are innocent victims of aggressive action. It is directed against all those Israelis that considered Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense morally justified as acts of self defense.”

Still not racist. Even if every Israeli acquiesced to the ‘apartheid wall’ criticism would still be allowed without people crying, ‘racist! racist!’ It might be incorrect, inasmuch as an opinion can be, as you postulate, but it’s still not racist.

“I agree that being Israeli and being a Jew is not the same thing. But when i see absurd criticisms against Israelis (such as the aforementioned ones) i can’t help concluding that some sort of passion blinds the one who makes the criticism. And what more plausible passion than anti-Semitism can explain the unwillingness to recognize that both the fence and the two anti-terrorist military operations in Gaza were acts of self defense?”

Plausible yes; demonstrable no. Besides in this case the cartoonist has been active for 4 decades doing this kind of thing to all heads of state, including British ones. Here in Britain that type of cartoon is commonplace and usually directed against British politicians, if not American, Russian, French etc. The wall and terrorism can both be bad things, you know. Anyway, looking at his track record I doubt he is an antisemite.

“I am not Jewish either ethnically or religiously (i am Greek and atheist).

And, yes, i do have developed a problem with the crowd that the cartoonist is representative of, but the reason is the unbelievably malicious attitude that these people evince when they seek Israeli moral failings where none exists.

I am not acting out of loyalty to anyone, i am acting out of reaction to a maliciousness that disguises itself as moral posturing.”

Pardon me; I meant ‘you’ as in ‘one.’ Mea culpa. I agree people pick on Israel, but that doesn’t make it racist.

“Okay, maybe it’s not racial. But deep down it must have something to do with Jews (maybe their religion?).”

I would say it’s more likely to be racial than anti-religion. But as I’ve said, I don’t think it was either. Why not let’s focus on Russia’s absurd position on the Syrian crisis instead of on a not-particularly-inspired but certainly not racist cartoon from one of the most tolerant newspapers in one of the most tolerant countries on the planet?

“Perhaps, but in this case it’s an historical reason. 70 years ago, some people that Netanyahu never met died for being part of the same religion/ethnicity. His kid did not die. I think a better example would be criticism of him on the day his brother died.”

Your analogy is a better one than mine, sorrow-wise.

But, on second thought, i did not point to an important dimension that i (semi-consciously) had in mind: i was paralleling sorrows, but i should have made an analogy that took into account the justified Jewish fear that the accuser might be a member of the (timeless) group that has been persecuting Jews throughout history.

The cartoon did not just hurt feelings, but also generated (low-intensity) fear and the indignation that is the usual outlet of such deep-seated fears towards perceived aggressors.

It is this failure of the cartoonist to be considerate of Jewish fears that makes me consider him emotionally vulgar in having chosen this particular day.

Could a better analogy be a criticism on the memorial of the day Netanyahu’s grand-grand father was (hypothetically) murdered, a criticism by someone who might be (somehow) related to the past murderer?

“But even then, the cartoon is meant for the consumers of the Sunday Times, not Netanyahu.”

True. I was just responding to your point that the cartoonist was under no moral obligation to give a one-day pass to Netanyahu the politician.

“Still not racist. Even if every Israeli acquiesced to the ‘apartheid
wall’ criticism would still be allowed without people crying, ‘racist!
racist!’ It might be incorrect, inasmuch as an opinion can be, as you
postulate, but it’s still not racist.”

The content of the criticism against the fence is not racist. But the motivation behind the criticism is surely something rotten (be it racism against Jews, or something else Jew-centered).

I am making this claim because it is impossible to find a single argument against the construction of the fence. A comparison of the number of suicide bombings before and after the fence shows that the construction was fully justified.

“Plausible yes; demonstrable no. Besides in this case the cartoonist has been active for 4 decades doing this kind of thing to all heads of state, including British ones. Here in Britain that type of cartoon is commonplace and usually directed against British politicians, if not American, Russian, French etc. The wall and terrorism can both be bad things, you know. Anyway, looking at his track record I doubt he is an antisemite.”

I don’t doubt your perception, i admit that there is great likelihood that he is not an anti-Semite, given his past record that you mentioned.

I’ll stick to “emotionally vulgar” , especially for his not having realized that the Americans, Russians, British and French are not like Jews, in that they are not bound to be scared and indignant towards baseless criticisms the very day they mourn a national tragedy.

“Pardon me; I meant ‘you’ as in ‘one.’ Mea culpa.”

No worries. We have the same figure of speech in Greek, and i use it myself both in English and in Greek. My readiness to explain myself must be a residue from my two recent attempts to engage in dialogue in Mondoweiss, where (among the name-calling i received and the deletion of many of my always decent comments) i was decreed by the commentators an operative of the Israel lobby.

“I agree people pick on Israel, but that doesn’t make it racist.”

It does not necessarily make them racist, i agree.

But i am more concerned with the amount and the severity of their picking on Israel, than with how they should be called.

It’s what this fully irrational bias might do to the Israelis that i think should be the focal point.

“Why not let’s focus on Russia’s absurd position on the Syrian crisis instead of on a not-particularly-inspired but certainly not racist
cartoon from one of the most tolerant newspapers in one of the most tolerant countries on the planet?”

It’s more like Obama, instead of Russia, that has drawn my attention (and has set off my alarms) with respect to Israel!

Now that you mentioned England, i am in love with this country. I would take it a step further and consider it the most tolerant country on the planet.

I have lived there intermittently for a total period of two years (studies in London and Reading).

I find its culture the most civilized by far, i declare the English are the most polite people on earth, i adore their emotional depth, i cherish their sense of humor, well, as i said, i am in love with England.

“I don’t doubt your perception, i admit that there is great likelihood that he is not an anti-Semite, given his past record that you mentioned.

I’ll stick to “emotionally vulgar” , especially for his not having realized that the Americans, Russians, British and French are not like Jews, in that they are not bound to be scared and indignant towards baseless criticisms the very day they mourn a national tragedy.”

Whilst there might be a Jewish cultural predisposition towards fear – I would like to think that there is not – it doesn’t give Jews, if it exists, a sort of ‘headstart’ on not being mentioned in the media. Even then, though, as I’m saying, the cartoon is directed against an Israeli, who happens to be a Jew, not a Jew.

I agree about the wall. I mean, one could criticise the problems it’s caused for farmers re its haphazard placement, but I know it’s played its role well. I wouldn’t go as far as you to say it’s so good, it’s beyond reasonable reproach.

“Now that you mentioned England, i am in love with this country. I would take it a step further and consider it the most tolerant country on the planet.

I have lived there intermittently for a total period of two years (studies in London and Reading).

I find its culture the most civilized by far, i declare the English are the most polite people on earth, i adore their emotional depth, i cherish their sense of humor, well, as i said, i am in love with England.

If only they were not so anti-Israel!”

Well on behalf of England I thank you! Your residency here explains your mastery of the language. I’m afraid I cannot repay the compliment as I have never been to Greece, although I would like to go someday.

It’s true, people are more likely to be anti-Israel than otherwise, but the numbers are not as overwhelming as one might at first think. It’s a sort of right wing/left wing divide, with centrists further divided on the issue.

“I’m afraid I cannot repay the compliment as I have never been to Greece”

You don’t need to repay the compliment because we don’t deserve it!

Greece is the most anti-Semitic country of the initial core of the EU. I have been saying that our anti-Semitism is not the western variety, but the Arabic one. I am glad that i recently found a link that corroborates my claim:

It’s a 2004 link, things are worse now – and the neo-Nazi party is in the Parliament.

I grew up with the street-wise guy of my neighborhood informing me that it is the Jews that spread drugs in the world – something to do with their machinations for global domination.

Passages from the Protocols are considered conventional wisdom, and the Elders (especially the American ones, “Americanozionists”) are our favorite boogeyman.

Things are equally bad in the civilization department: whatever i said about England, we’ve got none of it. We are surely the most rude people of Europe and our tolerance is best captured in the sentence “Greeks have a high degree of tolerance to both alcohol drinking and inflicting violence” – i am joking, i mean violence for honor’s sake is considered ok. Ιn 2011 a well known ex Minister and then-MP threatened some MP in the Parliament “to step outside” so that he would “f@ck him” . This guy (in the proper sense of the term) is now Head of the Parliament, no penalties for his past behavior.

Machismo is derided in England. Not so in “the motherland of western civilazation”: our term for machismo is “tsampoukas” (or “tsamboukas”) and it is not thought of merely as a good thing, but as a virtue. That it is an anachronism, i am afraid it does not cross our minds.

“although I would like to go someday.”

You will like the islands, i guess. Just in case you engage in pub crawling, make sure someone from the gang stays sober so that she can dissuade my compatriots from attacking you for the unbearable offenses they have taken from your “unmanly’ way of getting drunk – favorite Greek slur for the English: “those English fags” (that’s how you look to a big part of the Greek population when you say lots of “thanks” and “please” .

Jews have not learnt from the Shoah yet. That’s why they don’t riot and still behave like sheep. Most Jews in the Diaspora are first and foremost liberals, with diasporic servile mindset, and only much, much after they are proud Jews.

As DM put it: As soon as the Jews took over and started growing oranges as big as

basketballs, what do you know, say hello to the ‘Palestinians,’ weeping

for their deep bond with their lost ‘land’ and ‘nation.

Five hundred million Arabs; five Million Jews. Think of all the Arab countries as a football field, and Israel as a pack of matches sitting in the middle of it. And now these same folks swear that if Israel gives them half of that pack of matches, everyone

will be pals

As KR put it::Just reverse the numbers. Imagine five hundred million Jews and five million

Arabs Can anyone picture the Jews strapping belts of razor blades and dynamite to themselves? Of course not. Or marshaling every fiber and force at their disposal for

generations to drive a tiny Arab State into the sea? Nonsense.

Or dancing for joy at the murder of Innocents? Impossible.

Or spreading and believing horrible lies about the Arabs baking their

bread with the blood of children? Disgusting.

No, as you know, left to themselves in a world of peace,the worst Jews

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